THE crowd at Damson Park, home of Solihull Moors, was given as 292, but not all of the people present were the usual suspects at Birmingham City reserve games.

Two television crews, half-a-dozen photographers and newspaper reporters, plus a couple of radio correspondents, were on hand to take more than a passing interest in Martin Taylor's every move.

Ever since 'that' tackle on Eduardo and Arsene Wenger's outrageous comment calling for Taylor to be banned for life - which did so much to demonise the defender and inflame the situation - his next appearance after suspension was always going to be big news.

But those hoping for Taylor to continue in the role of some sort of football anti-Christ that Arsenal and Sepp Blatter have portrayed him were disappointed.

It was very much business as usual for Taylor in the 3-3 draw - a performance of little fuss and nothing rash.

Understandably he appeared somewhat rusty and maybe subconsciously a little tentative.

Playing alongside Franck Queudrue in the middle of the defence, there were no bad or mistimed tackles.

He was just a player trying to play the game he knows how by reading situations as they developed, standing his ground and making use of the ball.

Academy manager Terry Westley, who coaches Blues reserves, said no-one in the dressing room - least of all Taylor - was fazed by the last night's significance.

"I was delighted that Martin Taylor got through the game and that ordeal was closed," he said.

"Delighted in terms of that he's now ready for the first team because he's had a game and the suspension is over, so that's something for the manager to decide.

"I don't think it was difficult for him, and I don't think anything was different for him.

"He turned up and if it wasn't for the cameras and that there, you wouldn't know from Tiny's point of view that it was anything different.

"He played the game, well done, and that was it.

"For him, it wasn't about 'oh no, this is my first game back after what happened'.

"His suspension had finished, he was available to play, and it was about trying to get ready to force the manager's hand to pick him and help us stay in the Premiership.

"It [the tackle and Eduardo] wasn't mentioned, in the team talk or anything."

From the kick-off, Ashley Sammons - one of three schoolboy starters - passed the ball straight to Taylor in an almost symbolic gesture to help get him underway again.

Taylor's looping header from Daniel de Ridder's 10th minute corner was glanced in by Jake Jervis for the opening goal.

Taylor was kept relatively busy in an exciting and full-blooded encounter as Spurs recovered from 2-0 down.

And he was left on his backside when, as last man, Adel Taarabt - a star in the making - brilliantly waltzed through and flicked the ball up for Tomas Pekhart to nod home an equaliser.

There was one typically Tayloresque backheeled clearance from a cross in the second-half, when Blues rallied and might have forced victory in the final moments.

Afterwards, with Blues having made it clear that Taylor was not going to speak, he was escorted to his car by stewards and surrounded by media wanting his thoughts.

For Taylor, it was really a game just to get through and then move on.